9:25 p.m.: Streetsblog has some good pictures of one of the damaged trains as it was towed from the West Portal station.
9:11 p.m. (BCN): San Francisco Municipal Railway light rail vehicles resumed service at the West Portal Station tonight about five hours after a train rear-ended another light rail vehicle at the station, injuring nearly 50 people.
The collision occurred just before 3 p.m. when a L-Taraval train rear-ended a K-Ingleside train that was stopped on the outbound platform of the West Portal Station, Muni spokesman Judson True said.
Four people, including the operator of the L-Taraval train, suffered serious injuries.
Forty-four others were transported to hospitals with minor to moderate injuries, True said.
The people with minor injuries were transported to area hospitals in a Muni bus, a procedure standard for emergencies such as a major collision, according to San Francisco fire Lt. Ken Smith.
“The most complicated part is making sure everyone is accounted for, and the people with the most serious injuries are taken care of and transported in a timely fashion,” Smith said.
Smith said 68 personnel from the San Francisco Fire Department responded, as well as 15 ambulances, seven fire engines, one fire truck and a number of battalion chiefs and other personnel.
The collision halted service at the West Portal Station until about 8 p.m. when the K, L and M lines began running again, True said.
True said he did not know how fast the L-Taraval train was traveling when it crashed into the K-Ingleside train.
He said the collision remains under investigation.
8:34 p.m. (From Muni Spokesperson Judson True): As of 8:02 p.m., regular light rail service resumed at West Portal and the K, L and M lines are returning to regular service.
According to the most recent information from the San Francisco Fire Department, there were 48 injuries as a result of the collision: 4 red (critical) including the Muni Operator from the L Taraval, 24 yellow (serious) and 20 green (minor). All were transported to San Francisco hospitals.
6:37 p.m.: ABC7 is reporting that the 13 crash victims transported to SF General arrived in stable condition, saying they “all looked alert although some appeared to have suffered head injuries.” They also noted that “the hospital activated a level-1 alert so everyone at the hospital would know the ER was full.”
Additional coverage elsewhere (more links below the video): AP, NBC11
5:32 p.m. (From Muni Spokesperson Judson True: Muni Metro K/T, L and M customers are being served by buses in both directions between downtown and western destinations. Service is not expected to return to normal for at least several hours.
According to the most recent information from the San Francisco Fire Department, there were 47 injuries as a result of the collision: 4 red (critical) including the Muni Operator from the L Taraval, 23 yellow (serious) and 20 green (minor). All were transported to San Francisco hospitals.
The investigation of this accident is ongoing. Initial reports that the L Taraval was travelling at low speed have not been confirmed; the speed of the L will be part of the investigation.
Elsewhere: SFist, Streetsblog, Chron, CNN, Muni Diaries, ABC7, Photos of the crash by Aimee Ellis, KCBS, ABC7, ABC7
5:32 p.m.: Forty-four people were hospitalized this afternoon after a San Francisco Municipal Railway light rail vehicle rear-ended another light rail vehicle at the city’s West Portal Station, an agency spokesman said.
The collision occurred just before 3 p.m. when a L-Taraval train rear-ended a K-Ingleside train that was stopped on the outbound platform of the West Portal Station, Muni spokesman Judson True said.
Three people, including the operator of the L-Taraval, suffered serious injuries. Forty-one others were transported to hospitals with minor to moderate injuries, True said.
The people with minor injuries were transported to area hospitals in a Muni bus, a procedure standard for emergencies such as a major collision, according to San Francisco fire Lt. Ken Smith.
“The most complicated part is making sure everyone is accounted for, and the people with the most serious injuries are taken care of and transported in a timely fashion,” Smith said.
Smith said 68 personnel from the San Francisco Fire Department responded, as well as 15 ambulances, seven fire engines, one fire truck and a number of battalion chiefs and other personnel.
True said the collision remains under investigation, and added that he did not know the speed of the L-Taraval train at the time of the crash.
Muni light rail service between the West Portal and Castro stations remained halted at about 5 p.m. due to the collision, according to the transit agency’s Web site.
Buses are providing substitute transportation between the West Portal and Castro stations, and West Portal Station and western destinations for the K/T, L and M lines, True said.
4:25 (BCN) About 60 people have been injured in a collision between two San Francisco Municipal Railway light rail vehicles this afternoon at the city’s West Portal Station, according to the Police Department.
The collision was reported just before 3 p.m. and happened on the outbound platform at the station, Muni spokesman Judson True said.
Muni light rail service that travels through the West Portal Station remained halted at about 4:20 p.m. due to the collision, according to the transit agency’s Web site.
Buses are providing substitute transportation between the West Portal and Castro stations, and West Portal Station and western destinations for the K/T, L and M lines, True said.
3:46 PM (Bay City News) Multiple people are injured after two San Francisco Municipal Railway light rail vehicles collided this afternoon at the city’s West Portal Station, an agency spokesman said.
The collision was reported just before 3 p.m. and happened on the outbound platform at the station, according to Muni spokesman Judson True.
None of the injuries have been described as life threatening, True said.
Muni light rail service that travels through the West Portal Station remained halted at about 3:40 p.m. due to the collision.
Buses are providing substitute transportation between the West Portal and Castro stations, and West Portal Station and western destinations for the K/T, L and M lines, True said.
3:33 (From SF MTA) As of 2:57 p.m., all Muni Metro light rail service that travels through West Portal Station in either direction has been halted because of a collision between two light rail vehicles (LRVs) on the outbound platform at West Portal Station.
Initial reports are that a one-car L Taraval LRV travelling at low speed collided with a stopped one-car K/T Third LRV.
There are reportedly multiple injuries as a result of the collision, but none of the injuries have yet been described as life-threatening.
Buses are providing substitute service between West Portal and Castro stations and West Portal Station and western destinations for the K/T, L and M Muni Metro lines.
Photos: Tweetpic: Anthony Brown, Tweetpic: Meghan Brooks, Tweetpic: Meghan Brooks, Tweetpic: Meghan Brooks
